UC ANR is comprised of nine Research and Extension Centers (RECS) and 57
local UC Cooperative Extension offices. These facilities, until now,
have been hampered by poor Internet connectivity to support the 700 UC
academic researchers who are engaged with community and industry
partners to ensure that California has healthy food systems,
environments, and communities.

The UC ANR RECS extend from the Oregon border in the north, through the
Sierra foothills and Central Valley, along the Pacific Coast and south
to the Mexican border. The REC facilities are situated among
California’s rich and unique agricultural and natural resources, and
they connect both applied and basic scientific research and extension
activities to regional challenges and issues in these diverse settings.
Today nearly all research and data analysis involve remote
collaboration. In order to work effectively and efficiently on
multi-institutional projects, researchers depend heavily on high-speed
networks and access to large data sets and computing resources.

One of the first RECS to be connected is the UC Kearney Agricultural
Research and Extension Center, located in rural Fresno County between
the small cities of Parlier and Reedley. The Kearney REC now has very
high-speed broadband capability, far surpassing the speeds typically
available outside urban centers.

“The Internet at Kearney was like a drinking straw delivering and
retrieving information, when what we needed was a fire hose,” said Gabe
Youtsey, chief information officer for UC ANR. “High-speed, broadband
Internet at Kearney will allow UC ANR to lead innovative, on-farm
agriculture technology research and extension for the UC in the Central
Valley. It will allow Kearney researchers to share big data and big
computing among UCs and globally.“

Currently, offices, laboratories and meeting facilities at Kearney have
access to this high-speed Internet. In the coming months, high-speed
wireless connectivity will become available throughout the 330-acre
center. Researchers will be able to collect and upload data without
having to make a stop in their offices or laboratories.

“You can’t do big data with dial-up Internet speed,” said Jeffery
Dahlberg, director of the UC ANR Kearney REC. “Before this upgrade, our
Internet was slower than my home internet speeds. Now we have speeds
more like you will find on UC campuses.”

Dalberg noted that high-speed Internet will become a powerful research
tool allowing our researchers to collect and share data in
real-time.“For instance, a researcher can use an infrared camera in a
field collecting readings to determine how a crop responds to heat as it
changes throughout the day, but even this modest instrument needs
significant bandwidth,” he said. “We now have the bandwidth to do that.”

The research center draws hundreds of farmers to the site for meetings
and field days. With the new capability, those that live too far way to
travel to Kearney will be able to tune into real-time video streams.

Many of UC ANR’s research and extension centers are in areas even more
remote than Kearney. The Hopland (Mendocino County) and Desert
(Holtville, Imperial County) RECs are now online and connected to the
CENIC Network. By the end of the academic year (June 2017), West Side
(western San Joaquin Valley), Hansen (Santa Clara Valley), South Coast
(Orange County), Intermountain (Tulelake), Sierra Foothill (Browns
Valley) and Lindcove (Tulare County), will all be on the CENIC Network.
UC’s environmental education center for Bay Area youth, Elkus Ranch,
will also be connected to high-speed Internet via CENIC.

“CENIC is one of the most advanced research and education networks in
the world and a critical resource for University of California research,
education, and clinical communities,” said Tom Andriola, UC Vice
President and Chief Information Officer and CENIC Board member.
“Extending the CENIC network to the full UC community — including UC
ANR’s key research and education sites — is essential to the UC mission.
Today we have achieved a significant milestone, thanks to the dedication
of both CENIC and ANR leadership.”

The Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) is a statewide
network of University of California researchers and educators dedicated
to the creation, development and application of knowledge in
agricultural, natural and human resources. The University of
California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the bridge
between local issues and the power of UC research. ANR's advisors,
specialists and faculty bring practical, science-based answers to
Californians.

ANR works hand in hand with industry to enhance agricultural markets,
help the balance of trade, address environmental concerns, protect plant
health, and provide farmers with scientifically tested production
techniques and Californians with increased food safety. ANR is comprised
of

200 locally based Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists

57 local offices throughout California

130 campus-based Cooperative Extension specialists

9 Research and Extension Centers

6 statewide programs

700 academic researchers in 40 departments at 3 colleges and 1
professional school:

CENIC connects California to the world—advancing education and research
statewide by providing the world-class network essential for innovation,
collaboration, and economic growth. This nonprofit organization operates
the California Research & Education Network (CalREN), a high-capacity
network designed to meet the unique requirements of over 20 million
users, including the vast majority of K-20 students together with
educators, researchers, and other vital public-serving institutions.
CENIC’s Charter Associates are part of the world’s largest education
system; they include the California K-12 system, California Community
Colleges, the California State University system, California’s Public
Libraries, the University of California system, Stanford, Caltech, and
USC. CENIC also provides connectivity to leading-edge institutions and
industry research organizations around the world, serving the public as
a catalyst for a vibrant California.